Police drugs squad, it was revealed yesterday.

As The Royal Gazette predicted last week, Dominican-born Telford Georges has been named by Governor Thorold Masefield to lead the probe.

A statement issued on behalf of the Governor confirmed Mr. Georges' role in the Commission of Inquiry, expected to begin its deliberations by the middle of next month.

Former Cabinet Secretary Kenneth Richardson will also serve on the three-man Commission, together with a senior overseas Police officer who has yet to be named.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment, Dr. James Burnett-Herkes, will act as secretary to the Commission.

The Commission will examine the policies, procedures and practices of the drugs squad and make recommendations following controversy over the acquittal of Ellsworth Wilson on drugs charges last month.

The case against Mr. Wilson collapsed after whistle-blowing Det. Con. Lendrea Davis claimed she had been pressured by other officers to change her statements to match those of other officers involved in the investigation.

Mr. Wilson, of Mount Hill, Pembroke, was acquitted almost three weeks ago on charges dating from last year of possessing and handling more than $50,000 worth of heroin and having the drug with intent to supply.

Supreme Court judge Norma Wade dismissed the case because the drugs had not been signed in after their alleged seizure from Mr. Wilson's jeep on February 21 1996.

Mrs. Justice Wade directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts on all charges, ruling that the continuity of evidence had not been maintained.

She slammed Police handling of the case as "the most reprehensible conduct'' she had ever seen and added that it "brought the entire Police force into disrepute.'' But she praised the woman detective -- who resigned from the force at the end of June -- for showing "tremendous courage'' in the face of severe pressure.

Georges to head inquiry The Police later said that Ms Davis had been under investigation for two alleged "serious breaches of conduct'' prior to the row over the Wilson case -- and added she would still be the subject of internal inquiries if she had not resigned from the force. Mr. Georges also headed the probe into the one-day delay of the Island's 1995 Independence Referendum in the wake of Hurricane Felix. He also led a Bermuda Crime Commission which sat between 1977 and 1978. Mr. Georges has a formidable legal track record as well as extensive background knowledge of Bermuda. He served as Chief Justice of the Bahamas from 1984 to 1989, in Zimbabwe in 1983 and Tanzania from 1965-67.

The retired judge, now in his 60s, lives in Barbados.